IRCs now submit comprehensive Skills Forecasts to the AISC every 3 years, with abridged annual updates submitted in the intervening 2 years.
Electrotechnology IRC
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Click Here to see all results.This page provides high level information and data on the Electrotechnology industry which comprises six main industry sectors:
The Electrotechnology industry includes the design, maintenance, installation and repair of all electrical and electronic equipment. The Electrotechnology industry workforce stretches across a wide range of other industries including Mining, Manufacturing, Communications, Construction, Renewables, and Domestic and Commercial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.
Nationally recognised training for the Electrotechnology industry is delivered under the UEE – Electrotechnology Training Package.
For more information and data specific to Electrical Engineering, Electrical Services, Electronics and Computers, Industrial Control, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, ESI Generation, and ESI Transmission Distribution and Rail please visit the respective pages.
Information sourced from the Electrotechnology IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast and Electrotechnology IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast (abridged annual update).
All data sources are available at the end of the page.
IRCs now submit comprehensive Skills Forecasts to the AISC every 3 years, with abridged annual updates submitted in the intervening 2 years.
Electrotechnology IRC
Please note: any employment projections outlined below were calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics prior to COVID-19.
For the occupation of Electrician, and although there have been some fluctuations in between, employment levels have grown overall from around 99,300 in 2000 to approximately 133,700 in 2020, and these increases are expected to continue over the next four years. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics have also experienced overall growth in the same period, with increases also expected to 2024.
The occupations of Electrical Engineering Draftsperson and Technician, and Electronics Trades Workers have fluctuated over the years, however the 2000 and 2020 employment levels for both occupations are relatively similar. Projections, however, indicate a decrease in employment levels by 2024 for both occupations.
The occupation of Telecommunications Trades Worker has experienced some variation in employment levels between 2000 and 2020, but overall the figures are relatively similar. A small increase in employment levels is predicted by 2024.
The employment level for Electronic Engineering Draftsperson and Technician has decreased by more than half since 2000, with a slight increase in employment levels predicted by 2024.
After peaking at approximately 63,160 in 2017, program enrolments in the Electrotechnology Training Package declined to roughly 60,300 in 2018 but have since returned to levels similar to the peak in 2017, with 63,010 recorded in 2019. Program completions have declined to about 15,240 in 2019, but levels are still above the low point of 14,840 in 2017.
Over the past five years, around 90% of subjects were delivered as part of a nationally recognised program.
According to the Electrotechnology IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast, the top priority skills required for the Electrotechnology industry are health and safety, maintenance and servicing, electrical, testing and diagnostics, and security. In addition, the top priority generic skills for the Electrotechnology industry include:
According to the job vacancy data, the most advertised Electrotechnology occupations were Electricians, followed by Electronics Trades Workers and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics. Communication skills, preventative maintenance and problem solving were identified as the top generic skills in demand, while Westrac, Government of Queensland and Downer EDI were the top employers.
Further, the Electrotechnology IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast lists the following skills and labour shortages, as identified from an online survey of industry stakeholders:
Reasons given by employers for the shortages in the job roles listed above, in order of frequency were:
The Electrotechnology IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast highlights a range of challenges and opportunities which will impact future skilling requirements of the Electrotechnology workforce, including:
COVID-19 is expected to have a significant impact on the industry, with the Electrotechnology IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast identifying anecdotal reports that Group Training Apprentices are being sent back from host employers and with their training contracts suspended or terminated. This could have a significant impact over many years on the supply of skilled labour in the Electrotechnology industry.
Below is a list of industry-relevant research, organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.
Australian Infrastructure Plan – Infrastructure Australia
Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association
ANZETA Electrotechnology Training Alliance
Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating
Australian Refrigeration Mechanics Association
Australian Rail Track Corporation
Institute of Instrumentation Control and Automation
National Electrical and Communications Association
National Electrical Switchboard Manufacturers Association
NSW Utilities & Electrotechnology Industry Training Advisory Body
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors’ Association Australia
Australian Refrigeration Council
Department of Employment, 2020, Employment Projections, available from the Labour Market Information Portal
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020, Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards, 6291.0.55.003 - EQ08, viewed 1 August 2020 https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6291.0.55.003May%202020?OpenDocument
Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Students and Courses from the following training package:
This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.
Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:
Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill-sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Location data uses student residence. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions, please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document.
Priority skills data have been extracted from the Electrotechnology IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast.
Job vacancy data have been extracted from Burning Glass Technologies 2020, Labor Insight Real-time Labor Market Information Tool, Burning Glass Technologies, Boston, viewed July 2020, https://www.burning-glass.com.
Data shown represents most requested generic skills and occupations according to internet job postings in Australia between July 2017 and June 2020 filtered by the ANZSCO classification levels listed below.